, 1887-02-24

would not move uutil a given time 10
would be released. AS he readily agreed
to the conditions the girl stole out into the
passage, turned the key very softly, and
then flew back into her own room, which
she locked in hot haste, Here she knocked
On the inner door, and ut the appointed
sign heard the young man dash through
the corridor and down stairs. There was
Il sound of rafting glass, an alteration Of
voices, "A pistol shot and then Il brief
period of suspense, during which the
hearts Of the W. women stood still. Then
steps returned along the passage, crossed
through the next room, and stopped be-
side the door OF communication, where a
rap r~esounded.
Miss Estabrook, I nave come back
said n quiet voice.
And the-the mani" asked Maud,
brcathlessly.
sob, | fancy he'll give yon no more
trouble Judging from the groan l heard
as he beat u retreat he won't feel in spirits
for any more of this business tonight"
"We-we are very much obliged TO
you,'' stammered Maud, rather at n loss
what to say under the circumstances.
Not at all. 1t was a pleasure to Inc.
He was infringing on my rights, you
know"
Silence followed, broken by another rap.
miss Estabrook, I am waiting to be
locked In again"
'Do you really mean began Maud.
Certainly. l must insist, If you please.
III stay here till you give me the word"
BE quick, Maud" whispered Mrs.
Estabrook, very distrustful of this ex-
traordinary burglar. 1.-THE man is either
n criminal or a lunatic. Run and turn
the key, child, before he changes his
mind"
Thus urged, the girl made another
sortie. Once more the key clicked in the
lock, their prisoner was heard to cross the
floor, and then all was silence again.
Not for long, however. Suddenly there
was Il confused clamor at the outside
door, while the bell pealed loudly through
the house. Maud and her mother sprang
up and faced each other.
THAT man back AGAIN." faltered Mrs.
Estabrook.
"Oh, mamma, nor' said Maud, reas-
suringly- "A burglar would never ring
the bell. Why, it's Toni she cried,
with sudden conviction. sIt's my brother
come home" she repeated, us a voice
from the next room was heard, with re-
newed proffers OF assistance.
Tom 1t was, indeed, and very anxious
about the safety Of the household. AS
the brother II sister met in the gray Of
the early dawn he hastily explained how,
having called In to see Amelia, she had
given him nj peace until he promised to
return at once to The WILLOWS; how he
had done so, in some vexation at what he
considered her fussiness, until everything
had suddenly been driven out of his mind
by the sight Of a blood stain on the piazza.
At which Maud ~shuddered, and was about
to relate her version of the nights I'D
ventures when Mrs. Estabrook's voice
was heard in reproachful accents from
above. They FASTENED up stairs, and
found the poor lady inclined to Mysteries
Mt being left alone. She began an inco-
herent story, in which Peter and the
burglar were jumbled, to Toms utter be
wilderment.
But who winged the burglar, them"
he sked. WAS 1t you, Maud'''
'Hush-shr' breathed his mother, with
warning finger appraised. He's in there,
you know"
In therei Why, l thought you said he
was gomez And what on earth IS Peter in
there fory"
mo, no, not Peter, the-the burg
lar'-
"Thc burglarp' Tom jumped up. ''You
don't mean you've trapped the fellow
Bravov' And he was hurrying to the
door, when his sister laid a hand on his
arm.
"Oh, wait, Tom,' - she said. ''That is
the oldest part of 1t all" And she told
the tale of their strange guest. 1T
doesn't seem like his being n burglar, but
| don't think he can be in his right
mind;'' she concluded.
"By jovei i should say not Wanted
to be locked up again, Why, the man
must be n first class crank. Well, I'll
have n look at him"
He left the room, and the two women
heard the key turn in the lock. They held
their breath to listen, but all they could
distinguish in the next room was a con-
fused ound of voices and laughter.
Presently Tom came back, accompanied
by the suppositious burglar.
my mother and sister, Mr.. Folliott,n
said Tom, with a wave of the hand and a
twinkle of the eye. Mother, this is my
friend Mr.. Folliott, who seems to think
there is some mystery that needs clearing
up"
The real burglar was never found.
Therefore Tom Estabrook was unable to
settle the question II that suspicious
stranger resembled Mr.. Marston Folliott
in anything beyond the scar. Even that
had nearly disappeared before Mr.. Folliott
left The Willows, so that when Amelia
first saw her future brother-in-law she
gravely remarked that she could not
imagine how mamma and Maud could
have made such Il singular mistake. She
was sure she never could. Which, from
the cause OF the whole misunderstanding,
was certainly rather trying. But then
Amelia was trying sometimes, as people
without II sense of humor are apt To be-